A weekday caregiver to five grandkids – a 7-year-old, twin 6s, and a pair of 3-year-old cousins – Aurora resident Becky Burkhalter finds a trusty oasis in Blackberry Farm.
“It’s a place that provides sheer joy for the kids,” says Becky, a Blackberry season passholder who’s a safe bet to ‘go live’ on Facebook a few steps into the park. “I always tell my friends, ‘I’m sorry I post a lot about my grandkids, but this way their parents can see them when they’re working.’ It makes mom and dad feel a little more in touch.
“And Blackberry Farm is our go-to place.”
Blackberry and its fall majesty will be on full display throughout October, when the 55-year-old living history museum plays host to Pumpkin Weekends on Saturdays and Sundays (Oct. 5-27), along with Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, Oct. 14.
Located at 100 S. Barnes Road on Aurora’s far west side, Blackberry and its fall finery is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during Pumpkin Weekends, and admission is $10 per person (ages 1+). Visitors can purchase pumpkins to decorate for an additional $3 upon arrival. Unlimited rides and attractions – train, carousel, ponies, hay wagon, to name a few – are included with admission.
Visitors are invited to be on the lookout for five golden pumpkins strategically placed throughout the park. Successful scavengers can enter to win a 2025 Individual Season Pass to Blackberry Farm.
Playful ‘New’ Names for Popular Spots
This year, guests familiar with Pumpkin Weekends may notice subtle differences around Blackberry, as the team “rebranded a little bit and we’re theming more spots around the park,” says Becky Harling, facility manager at Blackberry.
Popular destinations inside the park may carry different names, such as Halloweentown (Early Streets Museum), Huntoon Harvest House (Huntoon House), Tiny Tots Scarecrow Farm (Little Farmer’s Junction), Jack-O-Lantern Junction (Train Depot), and the Candy Corn Carousel.
“Pumpkin Weekends for a long time was harvest-focused, and that décor can get pretty repetitive with cornstalks and pumpkins,” Harling says. “We’re trying to encapsulate other components of the season. Sure, it’s fall harvest, but there’s also fun holidays and themes like Halloween that we can tie in and make it more fun when you’re going into different spaces throughout the park.”
Special activities every Saturday & Sunday
Every Saturday and Sunday throughout Pumpkin Weekends features a different special activity, including:
Oct. 5: Pumpkin Bounce House, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oct. 6: Bubble Making, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Oct. 12: Pumpkin Carver, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Oct. 13: Face Painter, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Oct. 19: Trick-or-Treat, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Oct. 20: Jeanie B! Children’s Concert, 1 p.m.
Oct. 26: Balloon Artist, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Oct. 27: World’s Tallest Scarecrow, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Harling also noted that the kiddos can romp and play in the Corn Crib – a 700-gallon galvanized bin filled with corn and located in the Scarecrow Farm/Little Farmer’s Junction. Guests can refuel at Summer Kitchen, er, “Harvest Eats & Treats,” which will be open throughout Pumpkin Weekends, featuring fall-themed snacks and drinks.
“Fall is huge in this area with all of the pumpkin patches and other fun options,” Harling says. “We can take the extra step with our rides and attractions, and you can get your pumpkin patch activities in while you’re here.
“You can take family photos against the beautiful backdrops of Blackberry Farm and use them for those holiday greeting cards in a couple of months. You can tick off a lot of things you like to do in the fall – but just all in one place, which is really nice.”
For more information on Pumpkin Weekends, call Blackberry Farm at 630-892-1550 or visit www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org and the Blackberry Farm Facebook page.
